Vending machine



March 3o ,1926. 4

M. BUNN ET AL VENDING MACHINE- FiledvJune 9, 1924 s sheets-sheet 1 ////////////////l///l/l/R Marek 30,1926.

M. BUNN ET AL VENDING MACHINE 3' sheets-shea s Filed June 9.. 1924 k/ K d' 4' -M1/rae u 77714 latenciaA Mar. 3o, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MONROE BUNN, 0F LENOX, AND BUBBER G. ROBERTSON, 0F DYEBfSBUBG, TENNESSEE.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application led J'une 9, 1924. Serial No. 718,932'.

vision of the'bottle vending machine, where in the bottles are arranged for discharge, one at a time, and selective means operated v by the placing of a coin in a-machine, to

allow a bottle of the beverage to piasstherefrom while the remaining bottles are held against discharge.

With the preceding and other objects that will become apparent from the disclosure,

the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, arrangement of parts, constructions and operations which will be set forth, claimedand illustrated in the ac.

companying drawings.

In the drawings: A Figure 1 1s a nliorizontal` sectional view of the vending machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the vending machine, cut on the line 2-2 of Figure .1, and with parts broken away.-

Figure 3 isa transverse sectional view of the vending machine, cut on the line3-3 of Figure 1. Y

Figure 4 is a plan view ofl thecoin receiving device used in the machine, with parts thereof shown iii'section and .parts broken away. i

lFigure 5 is a fra entary -plan view Ot a corner portion of t e vending machine.

Figure 6 is a fra entary sectional view of the. vending mao ine, showing meansl for operating the signal providedupon the machine.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a signal panel used in the machine.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of 4apush block used in the vending machine.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a slide used at the bottle outlet opening in the casing of the vending machine.Y

The vending machine comprises a casing khaving one of its side walls 2 hinged to its bottom wall and arranged to swing Jfrom a vertical position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, to the horizontal position indicated in dotted lines in the said figure. Tracks 3 are arranged upon the bottom wall of the casing 1 and hinge sections 4 are connected with the ends of the said track and are adapted to swing over the upper side of the wall 2, when the-same is swung to a horizontal position and bridge the gap between the adjacent edges of the walls 2 and the bottom wall of the casing.A rThe casing 1 is provided at one'end'with a coinpartment 5, adapted to receive ice or other casing 1 and normally lies disposed across the opening 6. The said slide member is provided with an inclined tongue 1'0, which enters the when the said chute is in register with the opening in the sidewall of the casing.

The vendingv machine also includes a carriage' 11 mounted upon wheels 12, which are lower portion of the chute '8,

adapted to travel upon the tracks 3 and over the said section 4, when the carriage is v moved into the casing or removed therefrom.l

When the carriage is within the casing, the 'f hinged wall 2 Iis swung to the vertical posi-L tion,.as shownin Figure 3, and the track figure, whereby the carriage and the track sections arecompletely enclosed within the casing. A superstructure 13 is mounted upon which partially surrounds the terminal bot-l the carriage 11 and supports a platform 14. The upper end `of the chute 8 is attached to the platform 14 and registers with an opening 15, provided' in the said platform. The platformis provided at its center with an opening 16, which receives a can 17, whereby the said can may rest upon the carriage 11. The can 17 is adapted to retain ice or other refrigerating agent. A helical flange -18 is mounted upon the upper surface of the platform 14 and the convolutions of said flange are spaced from each other, the said space forming a helical passageway along which the bottles 19 are adapted to be moved. as hereinafterexplained, toward the receiving end of the chute 8. A ring 2O is mounted for turning `movement upon the upper surface of the p-latform 14 and surrounds the flange 18. The ring 20 carries-at its outer edge a band 21, which is provided at its upper edge with upstandingteeth 22. Rollers 23 are j-ournaled upon the upper surfg-ce of the platform 14 and bear a ainst thevexterior surface of the band 21 an serve to hold the said band and the ring in position about the Harige. A spider 24 is carried by the ring 20 and re'- ceives the upper portion of the can 17sD as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. A

sleeve 25'is mounted for sliding movement upon one of the arms of the spider 24, and a bar 26 is pivotally connected at one end' with the sleeve 25, and a push [block 27 is pivot- 'ally connected with the other end of the bar 26. The said push block is arranged to move along the passageway between the convolutions of the flange 18, and the push blockis provided with` a hook flange 28 tle of the line of bottles arranged in the passageway between the convolutions of the flange. A bar 29 is mounted for sliding movement within the casing 1 and is provided at its side with a lug30, which engages between the teeth 22 and the upper edge of the band 21. Means, hereinafter described, are provided for reciprocating the bar 29, whereby the band 21 and the ring 20 are turned and the spider 24 is rotated abo-ve the platform 14. As the said spider is turned, the push block 27 moves the line of bottles betweenthe convolutions of the flange 18, land the bottle at the outer end of the line of bottles is moved over the receiving end of the chute 18 and falls through the said 'chute and turns and slides down the same toward the member 9. When the bottle strikes the .may be remo-ved. As soon as the bottle is removed from the trough, the member9 falls by gravity, and closes the opening 6 and prevents heat from the exterior from entering the interior of the casing 1 andheating the contents thereof.

A lever 31 is pivoted withinthe casing 1 and is providcdwith an inclined upper edge 32. A link 33` connects the lower end portmp of the lever 31'with one end of the bar 29. A pin 34 is mounted in the casing 1 and is located in the path of movement of tue lower portion of the lever 31. A spring 35- is connected -at one end with one of the walls of the casing 1 and is connected' at its other end with the intermediate portion of the lever 3l and is under tension with a tend-v ency to normally hold the edge of the lever 31 in contact with the pin 34, as best shown in Figure 2 ofthe drawing.

The coin receiving plate 36 is mounted, for sliding movement in the top wall of the casing 1, and is provided with an upstanding knob 37, by means of which the said plate may be moved longitudinally. The

the said IOllel'gbeing arranged to move along 95 the inclined edge 32 of the lever 31, hereinbefore described.

A hook 41 is pivtally mountedupon the casing, at the side edge ofthe plate 36 and the end portion of the hook 41 is normally receiveid within a slot-42 provided at the edge of the plate,36,.and is held therein by a spring 43. The plate 36 may'have limited sliding movement with relation.to the hook, when there is no coin vin the opening 38, When a coin is located in the opening 38 and the plate 36 is moved longitudinally. .the edge of the coin comes in contact with .the side edge of the hook 41 and the bill end of the hook 41 is moved out of the i'ecess 42, whereby the plate 36 may be moved over the upper edge of the level 31. As the plate 36 moves in an inward direction over the lever 31 and when thev opening'38 is completely within the casing 1, the coin drops from the opening 38 into the casing 1. At the same time, the roller 40 rides upon the upper inclined edge' 32 of the lever.,31, and -the said'lever, is swung upon its pivotal connection with the casing 1, whereby the 4 link 31 is moved longitudinally and the bar 29 is moved along the side of the casing 1. As the bar l29 moves, the lugs 30 carried by the said bar, engage the teeth of the band and turns the band and ring whereby the tongue l0 of the member 9, the said membercpush block, hereinbefore described, is moved is moved in an upward direction by the along the helical passageway between the weight of the bottle and the bottle passes underthe member 9 and its lower portion enters: the trough 7, from which the bottle ange upon the platform and the end bottle is pushed over lthe receiving end of the chute as hereinbefore described.

Thus it will be seen that'means are prolvided for actuating the bottle. delivery mechanism by a coin receiving mechanism, in a mannerl to ldeliver or dispense the bottles singly to Ithe trough 7.

The vending machine also includes a fraud preventing mechanism and designed to prevent the delivery of more than one bottle from the machine by the use of a -v single coin. The said fraud preventing mechanism includes a bell cranklever 50,

which is pivoted within the casing 1 and' cated in the path of movement of the shoulder 54. A spring 56 is connected at one end with the shoulder 54 and at its other end with the side of the casing 1 and is.

under tension with a tendency to normally hold the shoulder 54 toward the pin 55. Therefore, as the varm' 51 moves with the plate 36 as hereinbefore described, the bell crank lever rocks upon its pivotal connection with the side of the casing 1 andthe link 53 is lowered, whereby the spring 36. lowers the shoulder 54 incontact with the pin 55. At the same time',the lever 52 nis rocked upon the pivotal connection with the side ofthe casi-ng 1 and the free end of the lever 52 is moved in an upward direction',

and into the path of movementbf the'lower end of the lever `31. Therefore, the lever 31 cannot return to its normal position and with its edgein contact' with the pin 34 until the plate 36 is moved back to its norout of the path ofmovement of the lower l Inal position, whereby the lever 50 is swung to the position shown in Figure 2 of thel drawings and the link 53 is moved sothat the free'end of the lever 52 is swung down,

endof the lever 31. Thus, the plate36`-can not be worked back and forth by the use of as ingle coin'and'cause more than one bottle sleeve,

j with the lo.

A signal panel is slidably mounted' intofbe delivered ,from the machine.

the topvof the casing 1,- and is provided with a stem 61, whichl is pivotally connected -with an arm 62. The said armi 62 `ispivoted within the casing 1 and is'provided with a curved end portion 63 which is dis-posed in the path'of movement of a rod 64, carried under the' platform 1.4. The rod `64 is also pivotally connected with a` lever 65 pivoted onto the platform and the said lever is provided with an upstanding pin 66,'disposed, through a ,slot 67 provided in the platform. lVhen theV terminal bottle arrives over the ieceiving endof the chute 8,'the flange 28 of the push block 27 encojmters thepinl66,

whereby the said pin is moved along the slot 67 and the lever 65 is swung, whereby the rod 64 is moved longitudinally, under the platform." As .the saidvrod moves, its

outer end passes under the curved portion 63 of the arm 62, whereby the said arm is swung andthe panel 66 is projected above the upper surfacevof the body of the casing and serves as a signal to indicate that the last bottle has been deliveredl from-the machine and-that the machine 1s empty. J

Havingde'scribed the invention, what Ais claimed 'isz 1. In a vending machine, a platform, a

chute depending therefrom, a helical flange mounted upon the platformy and having its convolutions spaced from each other to provide a bottle passageway, a radially adjustable block mounted for movement along the passageway 'and having a hooked flange which surrounds one of the bottles.

2. In a vending machine, a platform, a delivery chute depending therefrom, a heli@ cal flange mounted upon the platform and having its convolutions spaced from each other to 'form a bottle passageway, a ring mounted for movement around the flange, means for moving the ring, a spider connected with the ring, a sleeve movably mounted upon the spider, an arm pivotally connected with the sleeve, and la push'block pivotally connected with the arm and adapted to-move alongthe passageway.

3.' In 'a bottle vending machinev of the class described, a platform, a delivery chute depending from said platform, `a helical flange mounted upon the platform and having its convolutions spaced from i each' other to form a bottle passageway, a ringring, an .perating member, for reciproca tion adjacent said teeth, a llug carried by said member and engageable withisaid teeth,

and operating means for said member, a

spider mounted upon and above said ring, a4 sleeve mounted upon the spider,ran arm' connected with and depending .from the er end of the'arm and adapted and a push block pivotally connected i togmove a ongin said passageway to push 4.. In a bottle vending machine ofthe class described, a casing, tracksin said casing, a carriage arranged in vsaid casing,

, supporting walls` for said carriage mounted upon said tracks, said carriage including a A platform, a delivery chute depending from said platform, -said casing' having .a dis- .charge opening with which said chute isi adapted to aline, aE helical fange mounted upon the top of the `platform and having its convolutions spaced from each other to form a bottle passageway, a band mounted upon said platform, a ring surrounding said band, said ring being provided with ratchet teeth, a member mounted for reci rocation upon -said casing .adjacenhone si e of the ring, a lug carried by lsaid member and co, operable with said ratchet teeth, and supports connected with and rising from said y band, a spider darriedby said support, a sleeve mounted for radial adjustment upon one of the arms of the spider, an arm pivottherefrom, and a push block pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm and adapted to move in said passageway.

In testimony whereof We aix our signatures.

YMONROE BUNN. BUBBER C. ROBERTSON. 

